When these people drew near the house where Dorothy was standing doorway, they paused and whispered among themselves, afraid farther But the little old woman walked Dorothy, made low bow and said, in sweet voice:

" welcome, most noble Sorceress, land Munchkins so grateful for having killed the Wicked Witch East, and for setting our people free from bondage "

Dorothy listened speech with wonder What could the little woman possibly mean by calling her sorceress, and saying she had killed the Wicked Witch East ? Dorothy was an innocent, harmless little girl, who carried by cyclone many miles from home; and she had never killed anything in all her life

But the little woman evidently expected her to answer; so Dorothy said, with hesitation, " very kind, but some mistake killed anything "

"Your house did, anyway," replied the little old woman, with laugh, "and same thing See ! " she continued, pointing corner house " her two feet, still sticking out from under block of wood "

Dorothy looked, and gave little cry of fright There, indeed, just under the corner great beam the house rested on, two feet were sticking out, shod in silver shoes with pointed toes

"Oh, dear ! Oh, dear ! " cried Dorothy, clasping her hands together in dismay "The house fallen on her Whatever shall ? "

" nothing ," said the little woman calmly

"But who was she ? " asked Dorothy

"She Wicked Witch East, as ," answered the little woman "She has held all the Munchkins in bondage for many years, making them slave for her night and day Now all set free, grateful favor "

" the Munchkins ? " inquired Dorothy

" the people who live land East where the Wicked Witch ruled "

" Munchkin ? " asked Dorothy

"No, but their friend, although I live land North saw the Witch East was dead the Munchkins sent swift messenger , and at once the Witch North "

"Oh, gracious ! " cried Dorothy " real witch ? "

"Yes, indeed," answered the little woman "But good witch, people love me not as powerful Wicked Witch was who ruled here, or set the people free myself "

"But all witches were wicked," said the girl, who was half frightened at facing real witch "Oh, no, great mistake There were only four witches in all the Land of Oz, and two , those who live North South, are good witches true, for myself, and mistaken Those who dwelt East West were, indeed, wicked witches; but now that killed , but one Wicked Witch in all the Land of Oz--the one who lives West "

"But," said Dorothy, after moment's thought, "Aunt Em has told me witches were all dead--years and "

" Aunt Em ? " inquired the little old woman

" my aunt who lives in Kansas, where from "

The Witch North seemed for time, with her head bowed and her eyes ground Then she looked up and said, " know where Kansas is, for never heard that country mentioned before But tell me, civilized country ? "

"Oh, yes," replied Dorothy

"Then that accounts civilized countries I believe no witches left, nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians But, , the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for cut off from all the rest world Therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us "

" the wizards ? " asked Dorothy

"Oz himself Great Wizard," answered the Witch, sinking her voice to whisper " more powerful than all the rest of us together He lives City of Emeralds "

Dorothy was going to ask another question, but just then the Munchkins, who standing silently by, gave loud shout and pointed corner house where the Wicked Witch lying

" it ? " asked the little old woman, and looked, and began to laugh The feet dead Witch had disappeared entirely, and nothing was left but the silver shoes

"She was so old," explained the Witch North, "that she dried up quickly sun end of her But the silver shoes are yours, and them to wear " She reached down and picked up the shoes, and after shaking the dust handed them to Dorothy

"The Witch East was proud silver shoes," said Munchkins, "and some charm connected ; but what we never knew "

Dorothy carried the shoes house and placed them table Then she came out again Munchkins and said:

" anxious back to my aunt and uncle, for worry about me help me find my way ? "

The Munchkins Witch first looked at one another, and then at Dorothy, and then shook their heads

" East, not far from here," said one, " great desert, and none could live to cross it "

" same South," said another, "for there and seen it The South country Quadlings "

" told," said the third man, " the same West country, where the Winkies live, is ruled Wicked Witch West, make you her slave passed her way "

"The North is my home," said the old lady, "and at its edge same great desert that surrounds this Land of Oz I'm afraid, my dear, to live "

Dorothy began to sob , for she felt lonely among all these strange people Her tears seemed to grieve the kind-hearted Munchkins, for they immediately took out their handkerchiefs and began to weep also As little old woman, she took off her cap and balanced the point end of her nose, while she counted "One, two, three" in solemn voice At once the cap changed to slate, on written in big, white chalk marks:

"LET DOROTHY GO CITY OF EMERALDS"

The little old woman took the slate from her nose, and having read the words , asked, "Is Dorothy, my dear ? "

"Yes," answered the child, looking up and drying her tears

"Then go City of Emeralds Perhaps Oz will "

"Where city ? " asked Dorothy

" exactly center country, ruled by Oz, the Great Wizard you of "

"Is he good man ? " inquired the girl anxiously

" good Wizard Whether man or not tell, for never seen him "

"How can I get there ? " asked Dorothy

" walk long journey, through country sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible However, use all the magic arts of you from harm "

"Won't you go with me ? " pleaded the girl, who had begun to look little old woman as her only friend

"No, ," she replied, "but my kiss, and no one will dare injure person who kissed Witch North "

She came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently forehead Where her lips touched the girl they left round, shining mark, as Dorothy found out soon after

"The road City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick," said the Witch, "so miss it get to Oz be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to Good-bye, my dear "

The three Munchkins bowed low to her and wished her pleasant journey, after which they walked away trees The Witch gave Dorothy friendly little nod, whirled around on her left heel three times, and straightway disappeared, much surprise of little Toto, who barked after her loudly enough when she had gone, because he afraid even to growl while she stood by

But Dorothy, knowing her witch, had expected her to disappear in just that way, and was not surprised least